The Indiana House on Thursday scheduled
its first hearing on a controversial amendment which seeks to
prohibit the state from recognizing any union other than a
heterosexual marriage.

The 13-member House Judiciary Committee
will consider the measure on Monday at 10 AM.

HJR-3, formerly HJR-6, was introduced
by Rep. Eric Turner, a Republican from Cicero, in 2011. It easily
cleared the Republican-controlled House and Senate. However, a second vote is
needed before the amendment can head to voters in November.

Some lawmakers have expressed doubts
over the measure's broad language, but any changes to the
resolution's language would likely result in a delay. Instead,
Turner has introduced a companion bill (House Bill 1153) which states
that it is not the Legislature's intent to block private employers
from extending domestic partnership benefits to their gay and lesbian
workers.

Freedom Indiana, the umbrella group
working to derail the amendment, responded to the scheduled hearing
in an e-mail to supporters.

“Make no mistake – we're under
attack, and this proves it,” the group said. “Lawmakers have
only been in session for less than 72 hours, and already our
opponents are rushing this harmful amendment through as fast as they
can.”